In this Ask and Answered episode, we break down the real reasons flat fees can transform your business—and why hourly billing might be keeping you small. The mindset shift designers need to make is to stop thinking like a technician and start pricing like a CEO. Flat fees protect your time, boost your authority, and create a better experience for your clients. This isn’t about guessing—it’s about building a smarter, scalable business model that reflects the transformation you deliver. If you're ...
Aug 05, 2025•8 min•Season 3Ep. 52
How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all of that is so important. We discuss how important positioning to the client about it being win-win-win and how to sell this to the client and they ac...
Jul 22, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 52
We have another asked and answered topic this week! We are talking about reframing what many designers see as “wasted” discovery calls. Just because a lead isn’t a fit for full service doesn’t mean it’s a dead end. Consider this as a chance to position your firm as a resource, build brand equity, and generate revenue—especially when you offer varied tiers of service. Start looking for smart strategies to redirect leads, educate potential clients, and how to stay visible—even when they say no. Th...
Jul 08, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Public relations isn’t just about getting published—it’s about what you do after the feature goes live. We thrilled to welcome our special guest who we have been working with for over a year. Alex Abramian, founder of The PR Collaborative , talks with us about the evolving landscape of PR for interior designers. With years of experience as a writer and editor for major national publications, Alex shares real-world insights into what editors are looking for right now and how designers at any stag...
Jun 24, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Another Asked & Answered segment today and our very own Liz going solo! One of the biggest balancing acts designers face is pairing creativity with structure. Your vision is what SELLS the client, but your process is what DELIVERS on that promise. Clients remember the feeling, not the portal or the lists or the emails—but having strong systems behind the scenes is what ensures a smooth, mistake-free experience. Your process and creativity don’t compete—they collaborate to create organization...
Jun 10, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 49
We believe one of the most underrated parts of a client journey is the intake process. This isn’t about a boring list of preferences like if they prefer black over blue or which kitchen they like best. Instead, it's about asking the right questions to uncover how clients live, communicate, and make decisions. Our unique and customized client questionnaire goes FAR beyond aesthetics and dives deep into behavior, values, and lifestyle—ensuring a strong foundation for collaboration and killer desig...
May 27, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 48
There’s no one right way to run a design business—but there is often a better way. This is not to say if something is working for you—great. Keep going. But if you're stuck or wondering why the same problems keep popping up? It might be time to challenge the models you’re using. How can you challenge the traditional business models, such as cost plus pricing and hourly billing? These are not the most sustainable or scalable options for growth. Instead we discuss considering alternative models th...
May 13, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Social proof from your clients is important for building trust and credibility in a business. Reviews and testimonials from happy clients, while also being mindful of how and when, can be used to showcase the success and unique offerings of your business. This not only helps attract the right clients, but also addresses common pain points and frequently asked questions. Reviews can also serve as a helpful tool for evaluating and honing in on your strengths, showcasing your value, and even areas ...
Apr 29, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 46
You can't lead clients from survival mode---well you can, but not well and not for extended periods of time. how How you feel directly impacts how you lead, sell, and scale. The mindset shift I have to use is to keep my business steady is the "attitude of gratitude." This "Asked and Answered" topic this week is slightly more personal but a question I get asked often when I am balancing all the moving parts of running a business. By redirecting negative energy into gratitude and giving back to ot...
Apr 15, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 47
This week we are answering questions from our audience--first up is one of my FAVORITE hills to die on and what I consider one of the most damaging things you can do for your business. It is not a smart business practice to sell blocks of time as a designer because this is not an effective way to market and value creative brilliance. Selling based on the end product or creative vision is a better approach for setting yourself apart from competition. By selling transformational spaces and having ...
Apr 01, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Sometimes the simplest of truths is what is going to move the needle and this begins with understanding who you are and your own weaknesses. We all have them right?? If you have a team, or even if you are a solopreneur, you are still consistently working with others and there are always going to be challenges of working together. However, being able to understand their strengths and weaknesses is going to make you a better business owner. It is important for you and those that you work with to b...
Mar 18, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Your marketing dollars are important. There are many elements to successful marketing and it starts with becoming part of the DNA of your business. This week we met with Denise Grothouse , the founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing, a company specializing in marketing strategies for the kitchen and bath design industry. In this episode we discuss the importance of having a strong brand voice and understanding your target clientele when it comes to marketing while also optimizing your #1 market...
Mar 04, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters. Here is the drum roll take away. It takes money to make money. Ta da! Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how important it is to pay for a good attorney in your state to develop a contract to suit your needs--or to get a CPA help to know when to become an S corp....
Feb 11, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 43
I am PASSIONATE--and if you have gotten my weekly newsletter the past two weeks then you would know all those years ago in college my young professor's advice stuck. So we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes and trying to reignite the flame in those that may feel it dwindling! Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing passion is one of the most important things you can do as a business to demonstrate to your clients what it is that you are bringing to the table. Passion...
Jan 21, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Happy New Year! What better way to start off the year than with my top 5 marketing strategies for small business owners grow their businesses. Marketing is a mindset and not just an activity, and it takes time and effort to see results. This is not simply a standalone entity, it is ingrained in the essence of any business. Every interaction, from the moment a potential lead first encounters your brand, contributes to your marketing efforts. To build a brand that resonates and connects, you need ...
Jan 07, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 41
The process of procurement in a busy design firm is NO joke. You are not running popsicle stand, you are running a firm with various moving parts and you have to be able to have a way to track what is coming and going through your business. This is where checks and balances come into play to avoid costly mistakes and keep the firm running smoothly. We know discussing purchase orders can be a little bit boring but by practicing a proper purchasing process and using purchase orders can make or bre...
Dec 24, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Cheryl is going solo this week while Liz takes a well-deserved little vacation. Cheryl is discussing managing client expectations and making sure you are not keeping them in the dark--you need them to trust the process! There is a level of professionalism that comes with the importance of managing clients' expectations during their project. Setting clear expectations with clients from the beginning, communicating clearly, defining project timelines, and always guiding the client through the proc...
Dec 17, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 39
How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all of that is so important. We discuss how important positioning to the client about it being win-win-win and how to sell this to the client and they ac...
Dec 03, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Who doesn't love an install day!? Sure, it can be hectic and exhausting but this is where you get to see the fruit of your labor come together. Cheryl went solo this week talking about In Detail's top tips for a successful install day! Having a team in place for installation that understands the logistics and are able to convey it to your movers AND your client is one of the keys to success. A strong install day is the icing on the cake for clients, so it's important to plan ahead and communicat...
Nov 26, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 37
How important is project management in interior design? Bottom line: Very. Because it saves your client money in the long run! This starts with having a clear and cogent scope of work to be able to refer back to when issues arise within the project. Project management, how it is handled and why you do it can make or break a project. This means being able to handle a client's question without running for the hills and not only reminding them but also affirming their decision in why they hired you...
Nov 19, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Have you ever stopped to think where your time is spent vs your energy output? The truth is we could be sabotaging ourselves and our capacity to work if we are not managing our energy. We all have relentless demands and unexpected challenges we deal with on the daily and we all tend to slip into negative emotions—the fight-or-flight mode—often multiple times in a day. We must take little and simple steps to recharge to recognize the costs of energy-depleting behavior and actions and then take re...
Nov 05, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 35
This week was a bit of a whirlwind coming home from High Point! We had the pleasure of having Jude Charles as a guest and we got to meet in person while we were attending Market. Jude Charles is a filmmaker and for over 18 years and has been producing documentaries for entrepreneurs. He has produced stories for Google, Steve Harvey, LuAnn Nigara, Rick Campos, and dozens of visionary CEOs. He is also the author of Dramatic Demonstration . This book is a roadmap that teaches you how to dig deep to...
Oct 29, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 34
How good of a partner are you to your vendors? Strong vendor relationships are a secret to success! Many designers do not think about their vendors until there is a problem. This approach does not allow to maximize the partnership. Getting to know your reps, your customer service people, and marketing team can enhance your bottom line and the customer experience you provide to your own clients. Learn Liz and Cheryl's eight best tips for getting the information you need from your vendors and not ...
Oct 22, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Cheryl and Liz are exploring five key roadblocks to bringing a new client on board and signing that contract. By showing your expertise to the client earlier than later, you remove many difficulties from the sale itself and you set yourself up for being able to deliver your best work. You cannot rely on the lead to peruse every detail of your website. Take the time to understand your leads, who you are selling to and put yourself in their shoes in how you would want to be treated. Have a questio...
Oct 15, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Are your clients receiving and perceiving what you say to them properly? What you say, how you say it, and why you say it is vital to communicate the value and professionalism your firm offers through strategic and consistent positioning. This means understanding and committing to your target audience, being aware of how you position your firm, and not trying to appeal to everyone. Why? Positioning is incredibly important for attracting and retaining clients who truly appreciate your work--the k...
Oct 01, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 31
If you have known me for a while you may have heard my "Top 12 Truths for Being a Shopkeep" and one of my faves that I stand by is "Retail is not for sissies!" And I know that our special guest, Christina Van Blake of Home Design Dover feels the exact same way. Christina, or as some call her Christi, is the own and prominent designer serving the Maine and NH Seacoast area for over 22 years. Her specialties in color, pattern and texture come from 3 generations of designing women which you will le...
Sep 10, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Listen up folks--we all have a love-hate relationship with social media right? Yes we do! It is a changing animal, and if you don't keep up with it you may be missing out on amazing leads because you are not staying relevant in our industry. Liz is off handling projects and Cheryl seized the opportunity to speak with a pro podcaster and social media guru, Darla Powell of Wingnut Social . Darla was a police officer, turned interior designer, to now founder and director of her social media agency....
Aug 27, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 42
What should you do when a client starts sending you items to evaluate? In this episode we discuss handling changes that the client initiates in design projects and the importance of respectfully evaluating items that the client provides to ensure they fit the design plan and overall project goals. We recently had a similar client experience (yes, we are in the trenches with you!) and share how we approached this client who wanted to save money by selecting a less expensive item for their project...
Aug 13, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 41
What is the #1 marketing asset of your business? Your website! It is a living breathing entity of our firm. Join us with our special guest Victoria Marcouillier, owner of Brandwell and host of the Branding Business School podcast , as we discuss the importance of branding, the value of marketing throughout the client relationship lifecycle why your the website's role is a crucial marketing asset. Learn how there are strategic aspects of design that are not merely about aesthetics but also about ...
Aug 06, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 40
It is never too late to start over. This week we have a wonderful special guest from New York! I have known and coached Diane Bianchini of Dream Interiors NY for a number of year and she is here to talk with us this week about her path to becoming a designer with a background in Aeronautical engineering--talk about weathering the seasons of change (see what I did there?!) We discuss the importance of resilience and adaptability throughout her careers and how her varied experiences have enriched ...
Jul 23, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 38
